St. Paul Suburbs for State Employee (Eagan, Woodbury: low income, apartments, rentals)

[Perpetual_Midwesterner]

Hey Folks,

I may be moving to the St. Paul area for a MN state government position this year. The position is likely to be located in St. Paul. Can you recommend some suburbs where the area is safe and affordable and is as easy of a commute by car or by other means as possible? Also, any recommendations of apartments or town home rentals that are physically handicapped accessible in these suburbs?

I read a forum from last month on the St. Paul area and these areas, Stillwater, Roseville, Lakeville, White Bear Lake, Woodbury are mentioned as some nice suburbs.

Thanks!

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by Perpetual_Midwesterner

Hey Folks,

I may be moving to the St. Paul area for a MN state government position this year. The position is likely to be located in St. Paul. Can you recommend some suburbs where the area is safe and affordable and is as easy of a commute by car or by other means as possible? Also, any recommendations of apartments or town home rentals that are physically handicapped accessible in these suburbs?

I read a forum from last month on the St. Paul area and these areas, Stillwater, Roseville, Lakeville, White Bear Lake, Woodbury are mentioned as some nice suburbs.

Thanks!

Almost all of the suburbs around St. Paul will be safe, so you will have a lot of options in that regard. Areas I would personally avoid are North Maplewood, parts of South St. Paul, and parts of West St. Paul.

One question I would have for you is how far are you willing to commute? Stillwater and Lakeville are further out (your average commute will be 25-30 minutes), but both are very nice areas.

Also what is your budget? Of the ones you mentioned I would personally go with Woodbury, however it will be the most expensive.

Personally my favorite St. Paul suburb is Mendota Heights, it has a rural feel to it (for being inside the 494/694 loop) but is extremely accessible to both downtowns as well as the airport and Mall of America. This one might be too expensive, but if you like the area then I'd recommend also looking at Inver Grove Heights or Eagan.

[Perpetual_Midwesterner]

Thank you Grizzly Addams for this information, this definitely helps!

When you say 25-30 minutes, do you mean by car or by public transit? Either way, that would be too long of a commute for me, so I'd like to be closer. I don't quite know my budget, it depends on the salary I negotiate. I have heard of Woodbury and have looked it up on Google map. I periodically read the forums for St. Paul and nearby and Woodbury is often mentioned.

I for sure will need a 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom as I have an elderly parent living with me.

Originally Posted by Grizzly Addams

Almost all of the suburbs around St. Paul will be safe, so you will have a lot of options in that regard. Areas I would personally avoid are North Maplewood, parts of South St. Paul, and parts of West St. Paul.

One question I would have for you is how far are you willing to commute? Stillwater and Lakeville are further out (your average commute will be 25-30 minutes), but both are very nice areas.

Also what is your budget? Of the ones you mentioned I would personally go with Woodbury, however it will be the most expensive.

Personally my favorite St. Paul suburb is Mendota Heights, it has a rural feel to it (for being inside the 494/694 loop) but is extremely accessible to both downtowns as well as the airport and Mall of America. This one might be too expensive, but if you like the area then I'd recommend also looking at Inver Grove Heights or Eagan.

[Glenfield]

I would look at St. Anthony. Very charming, more of a small town than a suburb, it's 15 minutes to the Capitol by car. Transit would be less convenient but I think that is usually the case. It's a nice, quiet little town on the Hennepin/ Ramsey County border.

[Grizzly Addams]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

I would look at St. Anthony. Very charming, more of a small town than a suburb, it's 15 minutes to the Capitol by car. Transit would be less convenient but I think that is usually the case. It's a nice, quiet little town on the Hennepin/ Ramsey County border.

I'd agree but St Anthony is not affordable, in the conventional sense. If the OP can afford St. Anthony, then they should go with Mendota Heights or Highland.

Also, St. Anthony isn't a St. Paul suburb.

And to the OP... I mean 25-30 by car, I'm not positive but I'd venture to guess that public transit would take 1 hour+.

[Citykid3785]

Woodbury is very nice, tons of land, newer homes, and arguably more retail than just about any other Twin Cities suburb. Eagan is great, and Inver Grove Heights comes across as fairly wooded and quiet with great homes. I have lived in Roseville (and Eagan for that matter) and loved it! It's an inner ring suburb, close to both downtowns, with plenty of good retail and safe.

Echoing Grizzly Adams, if I were to say my least favorite St. Paul suburbs: Centerville/Circle Pines, Maplewood ("MapleHood"), Oakdale, South St Paul, West St. Paul.

I'd go with Eagan, Woodbury, Vadnais Heights, or Roseville

[Rhody2Mn]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

Woodbury is very nice, tons of land, newer homes, and arguably more retail than just about any other Twin Cities suburb. Eagan is great, and Inver Grove Heights comes across as fairly wooded and quiet with great homes. I have lived in Roseville (and Eagan for that matter) and loved it! It's an inner ring suburb, close to both downtowns, with plenty of good retail and safe.

Echoing Grizzly Adams, if I were to say my least favorite St. Paul suburbs: Centerville/Circle Pines, Maplewood ("MapleHood"), Oakdale, South St Paul, West St. Paul.

I'd go with Eagan, Woodbury, Vadnais Heights, or Roseville

I echo this with the exception of Oakdale being listed as a least favorite suburb. Obviously this is subjective, but I find most of Oakdale to be nice and would definitely consider it (particularly the part that borders Woodbury and Lake Elmo).

Good luck to you!

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Addams

I'd agree but St Anthony is not affordable, in the conventional sense. If the OP can afford St. Anthony, then they should go with Mendota Heights or Highland.

Also, St. Anthony isn't a St. Paul suburb.

And to the OP... I mean 25-30 by car, I'm not positive but I'd venture to guess that public transit would take 1 hour+.

Well, we really don't know what the OP means by affordable. My assumption was that since they were to be working for the state, it didn't mean low income. It would be helpful to have a dollar amount but perhaps it's too early for that given they don't know how much they will be making.

And while St Anthony may not technically be a St Paul suburb, it's more convenient to downtown St Paul than some of the places discussed here, certainly more than Woodbury, Lakeville, or Stillwater. And commute time seems a high priority to the OP. What's more, St Anthony would seem better for an elderly parent than stranding them out in the sticks all day.

In short, until the OP can give us an idea of what they can afford, it should stay on their short list.

[wamer27]

Did you guys mean St Anthony Village when you say charming which it is? Both are on the Ramsey/Hennepin borders... The village is light years different and unique to St Anthony the city (which is basically live in) My father worked for state his entire career, we lived in Roseville, along with many of his very high level associates. New Brighton was another city one of the directors lived in. I'd look at Mendota Heights.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by wamer27

Did you guys mean St Anthony Village when you say charming which it is? Both are on the Ramsey/Hennepin borders... The village is light years different and unique to St Anthony the city (which is basically live in) My father worked for state his entire career, we lived in Roseville, along with many of his very high level associates. New Brighton was another city one of the directors lived in. I'd look at Mendota Heights.

Yes, I meant the Village. I also like Mendota Heights.